David Ofosu-Dorte Urges GRA Chief to Reconsider IMF-Driven Tax Revenue Goals
David Ofosu-Dorte, a senior partner at AB & David Africa, has advised the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Anthony Sarpong, to prioritize sustainable tax policies over merely meeting International Monetary Fund (IMF) revenue targets.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show with Bernard Avle on “30 Days into Mahama’s Government: What Have We Learnt So Far?”, Ofosu-Dorte emphasized the need for a balanced approach to fiscal management.
He acknowledged Sarpong’s competence in leading the GRA but stressed that his focus should be on broadening the tax base and identifying new revenue streams rather than aggressively increasing tax collection to satisfy IMF conditions.
According to him, an over-reliance on IMF-driven revenue targets could threaten Ghana’s long-term economic stability.
“He [Anthony Sarpong] is competent, but I think his two challenges are to broaden the tax base so more people can pay and find new sources and ensure that we can increase revenue. What I want him to avoid is increasing revenue based on the target set by the IMF.
“I do not understand how we plan our whole life around what the IMF sets. As a nation, we should know the target and those targets should also include reducing the government’s expenditure. It is not just about raising it only,” he stated.
